Thermal module structure

ABSTRACT

A thermal module structure includes a main body and at least one heat pipe. The main body has a base section and an extension section. Multiple radiating fins extend from a circumference of the extension section. The heat pipe is assembled with the main body. The heat pipe has a heat absorption end and a heat dissipation end. The thermal module structure has lower thermal resistance so that the heat dissipation effect of the thermal module structure is greatly enhanced. Moreover, the manufacturing cost of the thermal module structure is lowered and the manufacturing time of the thermal module structure is shortened.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an improved thermal modulestructure, and more particularly to a thermal module structure havinglower thermal resistance and able to provide much better heatdissipation effect. Moreover, the manufacturing cost of the thermalmodule structure is lowered and the manufacturing time of the thermalmodule structure is shortened.

2. Description of the Related Art

Following the continuous advance of sciences and technologies, the sizesof electronic products have become smaller and smaller, while the powerconsumption and the heat generated by the electronic products havebecome greater and greater. In order to keep the electronic componentsstably operating, the heat must be dissipated at high efficiency.

Please refer to FIGS. 1A and 1B. FIG. 1A is a perspective exploded viewof a conventional thermal module 1. FIG. 1B is a perspective assembledview of the conventional thermal module 1. The conventional thermalmodule 1 includes a base seat 10, a heat dissipation unit 11 and atleast one heat pipe 12. The heat dissipation unit 11 is composed ofmultiple radiating fins 111 overlapping one another. The heat pipe 12passes through the heat dissipation unit 11 and is connected therewithto form the thermal module 1. In general, the radiating fins 111 areconnected to the base seat 10 and the heat pipe 12 with solder paste bymeans of soldering. Such soldering process takes much time and leads toincrease of manufacturing cost.

Moreover, the bottom face of the base seat 10 of the conventionalthermal module 1 is directly attached to and in contact with a heatsource 13. Accordingly, the heat generated by the heat source must firstgo through the base seat 10 and then to the radiating fins 111 todissipate. According to such arrangement, the heat cannot be quicklytransferred to outer side of the thermal module in the first time.Moreover, the thermal resistance is increased. This will slow down theheat dissipation.

According to the above, the conventional thermal module has thefollowing shortcomings:

1. The manufacturing cost is increased.2. It takes much time to manufacture the thermal module.3. The heat dissipation is slowed down.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improvedthermal module structure, which has lower thermal resistance and is ableto provide much better heat dissipation effect.

A further object of the present invention is to provide the abovethermal module structure. The manufacturing cost of the thermal modulestructure is lowered and the manufacturing time of the thermal modulestructure is shortened.

To achieve the above and other objects, the thermal module structure ofthe present invention includes a main body and at least one heat pipe.The main body has a base section and an extension section extending froma middle portion of one side of the base section. Multiple radiatingfins extend from a circumference of the extension section. The heat pipeis assembled with the main body. The heat pipe has a heat absorption endand a heat dissipation end. The heat absorption end is assembled withthe other side of the base section opposite to the extension section.The heat dissipation end is attached to one side of the extensionsection.

The side of the base section with the heat absorption end of the heatpipe is attached to a heat source. The heat absorption end of the heatpipe serves to directly absorb the heat generated by the heat source andtransfer the heat to the heat dissipation end attached to the side ofthe extension section. Then the heat is dissipated from the radiatingfins of the extension section. Accordingly, the heat can be quicklydissipated. The main body is integrally formed so that the manufacturingcost of the thermal module structure is greatly lowered and themanufacturing process of the thermal module structure is simplified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present inventionto achieve the above and other objects can be best understood byreferring to the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a perspective exploded view of a conventional thermal module;

FIG. 1B is a perspective assembled view of the conventional thermalmodule;

FIG. 2A is a perspective exploded view of a first embodiment of thethermal module structure of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a perspective assembled view of the first embodiment of thethermal module structure of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a perspective exploded view of a second embodiment of thethermal module structure of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a perspective assembled view of the second embodiment of thethermal module structure of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a perspective exploded view of a third embodiment of thethermal module structure of the present invention; and

FIG. 4B is a perspective assembled view of the third embodiment of thethermal module structure of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 2A is a perspective exploded viewof a first embodiment of the thermal module structure of the presentinvention. FIG. 2B is a perspective assembled view of the firstembodiment of the thermal module structure of the present invention.According to the first embodiment, the thermal module structure 2 of thepresent invention includes a main body 20 and at least one heat pipe 21.The main body 20 has a base section 201 and an extension section 202extending from a middle portion of one side of the base section 201.Multiple radiating fins 2023 extend from a circumference of theextension section 202. The base section 201 and the extension section202 are integrally formed by means of mechanical processing. In thisembodiment, the mechanical processing is aluminum extrusion.

The heat pipe 21 is assembled with the main body 20. The heat pipe 21has a heat absorption end 211 and a heat dissipation end 212. The heatabsorption end 211 is assembled with the other side of the base section201 opposite to the extension section 202. The heat dissipation end 212is attached to one side of the extension section 202. The other side ofthe base section 201 has at least one groove 2011 formed in a positionwhere the heat pipe 21 is positioned. The heat absorption end 211 of theheat pipe 21 is assembled in the groove 2011.

According to the above arrangement, the heat pipe 21 is assembled withthe main body 20, whereby the heat absorption end 211 can absorb theheat and transfer the heat to the heat dissipation end 212. Then theheat is dissipated from the radiating fins 2023 of the extension section202. Accordingly, the heat can be quickly dissipated. Moreover, the basesection 201, the extension section 202 and the radiating fins 2023 areintegrally formed so that the manufacturing process is simplified andthe manufacturing cost is greatly lowered.

Please refer to FIGS. 3A and 3B. FIG. 3A is a perspective exploded viewof a second embodiment of the thermal module structure of the presentinvention. FIG. 3B is a perspective assembled view of the secondembodiment of the thermal module structure of the present invention. Thesecond embodiment is substantially identical to the first embodiment incomponent and connection relationship between the components and thuswill not be repeatedly described hereinafter. The second embodiment ismainly different from the first embodiment in that multiple extensionlimbs 2021 further outward extend from the circumference of theextension section 202. Each extension limb 2021 has a free end formedwith at least one locating hole 2022. The main body 20 has a first side22. A fan 24 is disposed on the first side 22 of the main body 20. Bymeans of the locating holes 2022 of the free ends of the extension limbs2021, the fan 24 is affixed to the thermal module structure 2. The sideof the base section 201 with the heat pipe 21 is attached to the heatsource 25. The heat absorption end 211 of the heat pipe 21 serves toabsorb the heat generated by the heat source 25 and transfer the heat tothe heat dissipation end 212. Then the heat is dissipated from theradiating fins 2023 of the extension section 202 and carried away by theairflow generated by the fan 24. Accordingly, the heat can be quicklydissipated.

Please refer to FIGS. 4A and 4B. FIG. 4A is a perspective exploded viewof a third embodiment of the thermal module structure of the presentinvention. FIG. 4B is a perspective assembled view of the thirdembodiment of the thermal module structure of the present invention. Thethird embodiment is substantially identical to the second embodiment incomponent and connection relationship between the components and thuswill not be repeatedly described hereinafter. The third embodiment ismainly different from the second embodiment in that the main body 20 hasa second side 23 on which the heat dissipation end 212 of the heat pipe21 is positioned. A fan 24 is disposed on the second side 23 of the mainbody 20. By means of the locating holes 2022 of the free ends of theextension limbs 2021, the fan 24 is affixed to the thermal modulestructure 2. The side of the base section 201 with the heat pipe 21 isattached to the heat source 25. The heat absorption end 211 of the heatpipe 21 serves to absorb the heat generated by the heat source 25 andtransfer the heat to the heat dissipation end 212. Then the heat isdissipated from the radiating fins 2023 of the extension section 202 andcarried away by the airflow generated by the fan 24. Accordingly, theheat can be quickly dissipated.

In conclusion, in comparison with the conventional thermal module, thepresent invention has the following advantages:

1. The manufacturing cost is lowered.2. The manufacturing process is simplified.3. The heat dissipation is speeded.

The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention,not intended to limit the scope thereof. It is understood that manychanges and modifications of the above embodiments can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present invention. The scope of thepresent invention is limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A thermal module structure comprising: a mainbody having a base section and an extension section extending from amiddle portion of one side of the base section, multiple radiating finsextending from a circumference of the extension section; and at leastone heat pipe assembled with the main body, the heat pipe having a heatabsorption end and a heat dissipation end, the heat absorption end beingassembled with the other side of the base section opposite to theextension section, the heat dissipation end being attached to one sideof the extension section.
 2. The thermal module structure as claimed inclaim 1, wherein multiple extension limbs further outward extend fromthe circumference of the extension section, each extension limb having afree end formed with at least one locating hole.
 3. The thermal modulestructure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the other side of the basesection has at least one groove formed in a position where the heat pipeis positioned, the heat absorption end of the heat pipe being assembledin the groove.
 4. The thermal module structure as claimed in claim 1,wherein the main body is integrally formed by means of mechanicalprocessing.
 5. The thermal module structure as claimed in claim 4,wherein the mechanical processing is aluminum extrusion.
 6. The thermalmodule structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body has afirst side, a fan being disposed on the first side of the main body. 7.The thermal module structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mainbody has a second side on which the heat dissipation end of the heatpipe is positioned, a fan being disposed on the second side of the mainbody.